Man held in death of girlfriend in Needham, stabbing of his parents

A 20-year-old Needham woman was found stabbed to death Saturday in her home on Marshall Street.

Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said the death of Olivia Bergstrom is believed to be connected to two stabbings in Millis on the same night.

The defendant, Benjamin Walsh, is scheduled to be arraigned in Wrentham District Court tomorrow morning on the charges related to the Millis stabbing of his parents. The exact charges Mr. Walsh faces will be released tomorrow morning at the arraignment.

It is anticipated that the defendant will be arraigned in Dedham District Court for the Needham murder following his arraignment in Wrentham District Court. is believed to be connected to two stabbings in Millis on the same night.

Police have arrested Benjamin Walsh, 24, who is accused of killing his girlfriend in Needham and then traveling to a family function and stabbing his parents.

Morrissey said, shortly after 7 p.m. Millis police responded to a disturbance at the Primavera Restaurant, where two individuals required medical attention for stab wounds. Family members subdued Walsh and informed police that he was responsible for the stabbings. Shortly after, Needham police performed a well-being check at Walsh’s apartment at 64 Marshall St., where they discovered the body of the 20-year-old woman.

“I would like to thank the detectives in Millis and Needham, and crime scene services who have had an awful lot of work to do over the last 12 hours,” Morrissey said. “It’s been a difficult couple of days in Norfolk County.”

Walsh is in the custody of Millis police, being held on multiple charges in connection to the stabbings in Millis. Additional charges are expected soon for the death of his girlfriend.

He is expected to be arraigned in both the Wrentham and the Dedham district courts because of the location of the two crimes.

Morrissey would not provide a motive for Walsh’s alleged actions.

Walsh’s mother remains in serious condition in a Boston Hospital and the father is “doing much better,” according to Morrissey late Sunday morning. The couple are in their early-50s and are residents of Millis.

When asked about a murder weapon, Morrissey said police have recovered “a knife of interest to us.”

Needham Police Chief John Schlittler said, there had been no previous incidents with Walsh in the short period of time that he has been living in town.

"The [Walsh] family have been lifelong residents of the town of Millis and they've been held in high regard in the community," said Millis Police Chief Christopher J. Soffayer.

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A good friend of Benjamin Walsh, Joshua Hunter talked with the Daily News Sunday evening about Walsh.

“I know Ben very well, we’re good friends actually. I was talking to him just the other day,” Hunter said. “I know his mental health has declined terribly. I have messages between me and him where he’s trying to get help, and his parents helping him. I thought he had a very loving relationship with his girlfriend too and I bawled my eyes out when I found out what happened.”

Hunter said he was aware that Walsh was going through some serious physiological issues, and was earnestly seeking for help for them, but isn’t sure exactly the nature of the mental illness.

“He’s a very humble, nice person,” he said. “It’s very surprising something like this would happen coming from him, especially with the love he has for his parents … I’m willing to say something on his behalf because I know he has a good character and he’s a good person on the inside. What happened is not good. I wish him well and I hope everything works out for him in some way.”

He said it’s extremely difficult to know what might have prompted Walsh’s actions, but said he knows that Walsh was trying to seek the help he really needed before it took this turn.

Primavera is a family-owned restaurant, which has been open for 28 years. The business has function rooms as well as a public dinning room.

“It was an isolated incident that occurred at an event last night. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by this tragedy,” General manager of Primavera, Briana Musto said Sunday.

The investigation is ongoing. The victims' names have not yet been released.

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